Instant Pot Honey Garlic Chicken

Instant Pot Chicken Recipes

The next time you’re craving Chinese food, but don’t want anything deep-fried and greasy, these Instant Pot honey garlic chicken thighs will satisfy your cravings big time! They taste just like your favorite takeout, but healthier and quicker than ordering in.

Like my other Instant Pot recipes, this honey garlic chicken is such a timesaver. Brown the chicken, throw in the sauce, then go do anything you want while the Instant Pot takes care of dinner! The chicken comes out so tender, juicy, and moist. That honey garlic sauce is a keeper too—it’s delicious with other proteins like fish, pork, and even tofu.

For more quick and easy chicken recipes, try my Honey Sesame Chicken and Ginger Soy Chicken next!

Ingredients

• Chicken thigh – my favorite because they’re tender, juicy, and more flavorful than chicken breasts! I like using skin-on, bone-in chicken thighs because they stay juicy without falling apart inside the Instant Pot. The skin also renders out the fat which adds richness to the dish. You can also use boneless and skinless chicken and even drumsticks if you prefer.
• Garlic – always use fresh garlic for the best flavors! Mince it as finely as you can so the flavors infuse into the sauce better.
• Honey – adds natural sweetness to the sauce. It caramelizes slightly as it cooks, so it helps create a beautiful glaze for our chicken.
• Soy sauce -for that salty umami flavor that makes the dish extra flavorful!
• Cayenne pepper – just a dash of this spice adds a nice warmth to this sweet honey garlic chicken without being too spicy. Feel free to use chili powder or red pepper flakes if you want more heat.

See the recipe card for full information on ingredients.

Can You Brown Chicken In Instant Pot

Yes, Instant Pot is perfect for browning meat such as chicken and pork. The Saute function is a game-changer for making one-pot meals! It allows you to sear and brown your meat before pressure cooking, which helps seal in the juices while giving it a crispy exterior.

Follow these steps for perfectly browned chicken in your Instant Pot:

Step 1: Turn on the Saute mode and heat up the pot. Make sure it’s fully heated before adding the cooking oil.

Step 2: Add at least 1 tablespoon of cooking oil to the heated pot and make sure that it coats the entire surface. Having the pot nicely greased is crucial for browning.

Step 3: If you have skin-on chicken thighs or chicken breasts, always brown and cook the chicken with the skin side down first. This will prevent the chicken from sticking to the pot.

Step 4: Brown, pan-fry, and sauté the chicken uninterrupted, for about 3 minutes on each side before flipping it over.

How To Cook Honey Garlic Instant Pot Chicken

Take as little as 5 minutes to prep these juicy Instant Pot chicken thighs! Trust me, it’s one of the best healthy chicken Instant Pot recipes you can make at home. And if you want more of that honey garlic goodness, just double the sauce ingredients without adjusting anything else.

Didn’t have time to thaw your chicken? This recipe still works with frozen thighs! Simply add 5-10 minutes to the pressure cooking time.

Here’s how to make honey garlic chicken in the Instant Pot:

Step 1: Season the chicken thighs with salt and pepper. Set aside.

Step 2: Mix all the ingredients in the Honey Garlic Sauce together and stir to mix well. Make sure the honey and sugar are completely dissolved. Set aside.

Step 3: Turn on the Saute mode on your Instant Pot. As soon as the pot is heated, add 1 tablespoon of the cooking oil. Pan-sear the chicken thighs (skin side down first) until both sides turn nicely brown.

Step 4: Leave the chicken thighs in the Instant Pot, add the remaining 1/2 tablespoon of oil, and add the garlic. Saute the garlic a little bit. Pour in the sauce and cover the lid. Select Manual and set to High pressure for 10 minutes.

Step 5: When it beeps, turn to Quick Release. When the valve drops, remove the lid carefully, add the chopped parsley, and serve the Instant Pot chicken with honey garlic sauce immediately.

Helpful Tips for Home Cooks

• After searing the chicken, use a wooden spoon to scrape all those tasty browned bits off the bottom. Aside from adding flavor to the sauce, this also prevents the Instant Pot from displaying a “Burn” error.
• The sauce in the recipe equals 8 tablespoons or 1/2 cup of liquid content. This is the minimum amount of liquid for a 6-quart Instant Pot.
• For a keto honey garlic chicken version, swap out the brown sugar and honey for a sugar-free alternative like monk fruit or erythritol, and use coconut aminos instead of soy sauce. 
• If the honey soy sauce is too sweet, balance it out with a splash of rice vinegar or a squeeze of lemon juice. A little bit of acid cuts through the sweetness without turning the flavor sour.
• You can easily adapt this Instant Pot chicken recipe for your oven (375°F for 30-40 minutes), slow cooker (6-8 hours on low or 3-4 on high), or stovetop (sear chicken, then simmer in sauce until tender).

Frequently Asked Questions

What To Serve With This Recipe

These honey garlic chicken thighs are best served with a bowl of rice or pasta and a side of veggies like Garlic Broccoli and Sauteed Asparagus.

For an easy and wholesome weeknight dinner, I recommend the following recipes:

Brown Butter Garlic Honey Roasted Carrots

Cilantro Lime Rice

Easy Spaghetti

Sauteed Asparagus

I hope you enjoy this post as much as I do. If you try my recipe, please share your photo in the Comments section and consider giving it a 5-star rating. I can’t wait to see your creations! Want more easy and delicious recipes? Subscribe to my newsletter and follow me on Facebook, Pinterest, and Instagram for new updates.